Expressing-press.



A. W. FRENCH.

EXPRESSING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14. 1913. I

1,172,783. I Patented Feb. 22,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

v eflffarme sq OLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0-, WASHINGTON D C A. W. FRENCH.

EXPRESSING PRESS.

nwucnmumzo APR. 14. 19:3

1 172,783 Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE coLuMnu PLA IOURAPH c0. WASHINGTON, D. c.

A. W. FRENCH.

- EXPRESSING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14. i913.

Patented Feb. 22,1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

THE COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, n. c.

A. W. FRENCH.

EXPRESSING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.14. 1913.

1,172,783. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

w i a. m 7m flkiw ALFRED XV. FRENCH, 0F PIQUA, OHIO.

EXPEESSING-PR-ESS.

Application filed April 14, 1913.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALFRED N. FRENCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piqua, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Expressing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to expressing presses, and especially to presses of the type in which a plurality of cakes of oil-bearing materialvare compressed between movable press plates. In Patent No. 942,44c2, issued to me December 7, 1909, an expressing press of this character is described and claimed in which movable side walls are provided at opposite sides of the press plates for confining the oilbearing material and preventing it from being squeezed from between the press plates at the sides thereof. The present invention relates particularly to improvements in the construction and arrangenent of side walls of this natureand in the means for operating the same. t also includes an improved construction of press plate and mat and certain other improvements in press construction, the nature of which will fully appear from the following description. 7

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification: Figure l is a side elevation of a press embodying a preferred form of the invention, parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in end elevation and partly in vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a. section on line HIIH, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line IV'IV, Fig. 2-. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the press. parts being broken away, the locking wedges for the side walls being shown in operative position, the ram cap and column clamp being shown in dotted lines in the position which they occupy after pressure has been applied. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a portion of a press illustrating a modified construction. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the cylinders for operating the wedges at one side of the press and the piping connections for the same, two of the columns being shown in section. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the cylinders and piping connections shown in Fig. 7, one of the cvlinders and the controlling valve casing being sh wnin verticalsection; Fig. 9.51s.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 760,849.

a plan view of an improved press plate, a portion of the mat being shown in position thereon. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section through a pair of press plates, the lower press plate having a mat thereon, a cake of oil bearing material being shown in position upon the mat. Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section. on an enlarged scale, through portions of the improved press plate and mat. Fig. 12 is a similar view of a slightly modified construction.

1 designates the baseof the press to which is secured by the columns 2 the head block 3.

The base 1 contains'the cylinder or cylinders in which operate the ram or rams. As

shown, the base contains two cylinders 4 in each of which works a ram 5, the two rams operating the common ram cap 6. Movably supported between the head block and the ram cap are a plurality of press plates 7, these being preferably suspended from the head block by links 8. in the customary manner, whereby they are properly spaced apart and free to be lifted by the ram cap for compressing the cakes between them. These press plates may be of any suitable construction but are preferably of the novel construction illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12 and to be hereinafter described in detail.

In order to prevent the cakes of oil-bearing material, such as cotton seed or linseed meal, from spreading out and escaping at the sides of the press plates, side walls 10 are provided which are capable of being.

moved into juxtaposition with the sides of the press plates to confine the cakes thereon, or of being moved a sufiicient distance away from the press plates to permit the latter to separate freely when the press is let down. It is usuallv found desirable to make the cakes of oil-bearing material of rather long and narrow shape, the press plates being similarly shaped and the side walls 10 be ing arranged at the longer sides of the press plates. It is necessary, however, for the ram cap to enter between these side walls and it is for this reason that a plurality of rams are used, each of a diameter less than the distance between said side walls. By this arrangementa sufficient ram area is provided to secure the desired degree of compression without separating the side walls and widening the;v press. plates and cakes as would be necessary if a single cylindrical ram of the requisite surface area were used.

As the pressure to which the side walls 10 are subjected by the lateral expansion of the oil bearing cakes is very great, the side walls 10 are made of massive construct-ion and of truss form, as shown, to prevent them from being sprung out of shape by pressure. For supporting the side walls so that they may be moved toward and from the press plates, the walls are preferablv suspended from. the head block 3 bv means of links 11, which are pivoted at their upper ends to the head block as by pins 12, and at their lower ends to the side walls as by pins 13 which pass through bearings in the side walls and are secured in eyes at the lower ends of the links by set screws 14;. A hole 15 is left in the outer member of each side wall through which the set screws may be reached, and holes 16 are also formed through the side walls in alinement with the pins 13 to permit the pins to be inserted and removed. The side walls are normally held in a position removed from the press plates by suitable means, such as springs 17 located in sockets 18 formed in the head blcck near the upper ends of the side walls, and in sockets 19 attached to the columns 2 near the lower ends of the side walls, these springs acting upon the heads of studs 20 projecting from the side walls.

In order to move the side walls toward the press plates and hold them rigidly in the desired position adjacent thereto, wedges are used operated by hydraulic pressure or in any other suitable manner. As shown, each of the side walls has a pair of wedge blocks 22 attached to each side thereof, one near the upper end of the side wall and one toward the lower end thereof, preferably at about the level which the ram cap reaches when the cakes between the press plates are fully compressed. 25 are wedge bars which rest against the columns 2 and are mounted at their lower ends upon the piston rods 26 of pistons 27 which work in cylinders 28. The wedge bars 25 carry wedges 29 which engage the wedge blocks 22 on the side walls. The

wedge blocks 22 are preferably adjustably secured to the side walls so that they may be individually adjusted to suit the wedges 29 on the wedge bars. Upward movement of the wedge bars 25 and wedges 29 forces the latter between the blocks 22 and the columns, thus urging the side walls toward the press plates. On the other hand, the clownward movement of the Wedge bars 25 and wedges 29 releases the pressure upon the side walls and permits the latter to be withdrawn by the springs 17 The side walls may be moved by the wedges into actual contact with the side edges of the press plates or means may be provided for limiting the movement of the side Walls so that when forced toward the press plates they will not actually come into contact therewith but will be spaced from the edges of the plates a small distance. lVith the latter arrangement the side walls do not grip the plates and retard their upward motion while the cakes are being compressed. The space, however, between the side walls and the edges of the plates should be so small as to prevent the lateral spreading of the cakes and the escape of the meal. At the same time it is necessary to have the side walls movable away from the plates so as not to hinder the lowering of the plates when the press is let down. Fixed side walls are impracticable, even if a space is left between the edges of the plates and the walls, as a certain amount of meal will get between'the side walls and the edges of the plates, owing to the springing of the side walls away from the plates under the tremendous pressure exerted by the expanding cakes. Then when the pressure is relieved upon the cakes, the side walls will spring back to their normal shape and the plates will be firmly wedged between the side walls, by the small amountof meal which has worked between these parts. Thus the plates will stick and will not separate to permit the cakes to be removed. It is, therefore, necessary to have the side walls movable away from the plates even though they be not moved into actual contact with the edges of the plates during the expressing operation.

In the construction of the present application means are provided for preventing the side walls from being moved into contact with the side edges of the plates, these means being shown for purposes of illustration as comprising stops 30, which limit the upward movement of the wedge bars 25 and wedges 29 and thus prevent the wedges from being used to force the side walls closely against the edges of the plates. The stops 30 are preferably made in the form of studs screwed in the head block so that thev may be adjusted. It will be understood. that other means for limiting the movement of the side walls may be utilized, and that such means may act directly upon the side walls instead of on the wedges, if desired. Such a construction is illustrated in Fig. 6, in which the inward movement of the side walls is limited at the top by the engagement of the walls with the edges of the top press plate 31, which may be made slightly wider than the movable press plates and which is fixed to or formed integral with the head block, while at the bottom the movement of the side walls is limited by shoulders 32 formed on the base of the press. Stops for holding the walls out of contact with the press plates whether engaging the wedges. or the walls directly, or of other construction may, however, be entirely dispensed with if desired,

and the side walls limited in their movement by direct engagement with the edges of the press plates as described in the patent above referred to.

The outward'pressure exerted on the side walls by the cakes being compressed between the press plates is so great that means are preferably provided for preventing the cOluInns'2 from springing between their ends by the pressure transmitted to them through the wedges 29. For this purpose the wedge blocks 22 at the upper ends of the side walls are placed as near the head block as possible and the latter is made to overhang the upper ends of the columns as shown at 35. Thus the pressure on the upper wedges 29 is transmitted directly through the columns to these overhanging flanges of the head block. In order to support the columns adjacent to the lower wedges 29, a frame or column clamp 36 is provided which ties the columns together against outward deflection. This clamp is made vertically adjustable so that it may be moved to a position, preferably at the bottom of the press, where it will be out of the way when the press is let down to charge or remove the cakes, means being provided for moving the clamp to the approximate elevation of the lower wedges 29 when the cakes are being subjected to the maximum pressure. The vertical adjustment of the column clamp may be secured in various ways, for example, as shown in Figs 1-5, it may be attached to the ram cap 6 and moved vertically with the same as the cakes are compressed. During the first part of the compression of the cakes the pressure is comparatively small so that while the ram cap is rising there is no necessity for the bracing of the columns. As the ram cap approaches the limit of its travel, however, the pressure greatly increases, but the clamp, which has risen with the ram cap, is then in a position adjacent to the lower wedges 29 where it furnishes the requisite support for the columns at the point where such support is needed. The column clamp may be of any suitable construction, it comprising, in the form shown, a pair of heavy frames 37 which connect the columns on opposite sides of the press plates and bear the stress incident to the tendency of the columns to be forced apart, these frames being preferably connected by comparatively light bars 38 which are not called upon to withstand any heavy stress.

The cylinders 28, in which work the operating pistons 27 for the wedge bars 2". may be supplied with oil or other liquid under pressure in any suitable manner. They are preferably supplied from the high pressure oi]. pipe used to supply the ram cylinders l, through the connections shown in Figs. 1, 2, l, 7 and 8.

-fl0w from beneath the pistons Referring particularly to Fig. 8, 4:0 is the supply pipe containing liquid under pressure from which leads a branch 41. The latter is connected by means of pipes 42 with the upper ends of the several cylinders 28. These connections provide a constant pressure of oil above the pistons 27 which tends to force these pistons to the lower ends of the cylinders and thus normally hold the wedges 29 in suchposition as to permit the side walls to be drawn away from the press plates by the springs 17. In order to lift the pistons 27 and wedges 29 so as to force the side walls toward the press plates, oil under pressure is admitted under the pistons. To accomplish this a connection i3 is provided from the main oil supply pipe 4:0 to a valve casing 4A. A passage 45 extends through this valve casing, the opening through this passage being controlled by a manually operated valve 46 and a check valve 47. From this passage a pipe 48 leads to the cylinders 28, nected to the lower ends of the cylinders by pipes t9. It will be seen that when the valve 4:6 is open, oil under pressure will pass from the pipe 40 through the pipe 43, passage 45, pipe 48 and pipes 49 to the cylinders below the pistons 27. As the area of the bottom of each piston 27 is greater than the area of the top of the piston, owing to the presence of the piston rod 26, it will be seen that the pressure under the pistons, when the valve 46 is open, will overcome that above the same and that consequently:

the pistons will move up, carrying with them the wedges 29 which force the side walls toward the press plates. The oil in passing from the pipe 40 to the lower ends of the cylinders 28 lifts the check valve 417, but if the pressure in the pipe 4:0 is lowered for any reason, the check valve 47 will close it being con-.

and thus prevent the pressure under the pistons 27 from being unintentionally relieved. The check valve also prevents oil from being forced back through the system from under the pistons by the pressure exerted on the inclined faces by the side walls. the latter are subjected by the expanding cakes is so great that the component tending to move the wedges down sometimes exceeds the resistance ofi'ered to the movement of the pistons by the high pressure oil under them. lVhen it is desired to lower the pistons 27 so as to permit the side walls to be moved away from the press plates, the valve 46 is closed and a second valve 50 is opened which permits the oil to 27 through the pipes l9 and 48 into the valve casing 44; and through a passage 51 in the latter into an outlet pipe 52.

It will be understood that if desired, by

. ma ing; suit-able con ect sns to. t e, cylinders.

of the wedges 29' The pressure to which 28 as described in Patent No. M2442, above referred to, or otherwise, a variable pressure may be applied to the side walls, the pressure being light, while the ram cap is rising and increasing as the compression of the cakes, and consequently, as the outward pressure on the side walls increases.

In Fig. 6 a modified construction for operating the column clamp is shown. In this construction the clamp 36 is not attached to the ram cap but is supported independently of the latter upon plungers 60 which work in cylinders 61 secured to the base of the press. Any suitable number of these plungers and cylinders may be used, one preferably being located at each corner of the press. Fig. 6 shows the clamp in full lines, raised to its operative position, the position of the clamp when the press is being charged or emptied being shown in dotted lines. It will be seen that by supporting the clamp independently of the ram cap it may be moved up to a position where it will brace the columns before the ram cap is operated to compress the cakes. It may also be moved to a position adjacent to the wedges whether the ram cap reaches that level or not.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 an improved form of press plate and mat are shown which are well adapted to be used with the press above described, although the press may be used with other forms of press plates and mats, and the improved mat and press plate are capable of use in other forms of presses. The improved press plate 7 is preferably made long and narrow, as shown, the side walls 10 of the press being intended to be moved into juxtaposition with its long parallel side edges 71. At its front and rear corners the press plate has the usual lugs 72 and 73. respectively, in which are formed notches 7% for the supporting links 8. The front end of the press plate is cut out or recessed between the lugs 72, as indicated at 75. This is to facilitate the placing of the cake in the press as the pan shover does not have to reach as far back as if the end of the plate were straight from lug to lug. The lugs 72 proiect forward in order that the supporting links may hang in front of the columns and side walls.

The press plate is preferably provided in its lower surface with a series of transverse corrugations 76 which are adapted to engage the press cloth on the cake supported by the plate below, these corrugations acting in a well known manner to prevent the cake from creeping and injuring the press cloth. In its upper surface the plate is provided with a series of grooves 77 preferably extending longitudinally from end to end of the plate. Secured to the upper surface of the plate is a mat 78 which has in its under surface a plurality of longitudinal grooves 7 9 adapted to register with the grooves 7 7 in the plate 7 and so form longitudinal channels for the drainage of the oil. The upper'surface of the mat is preferably provided with corrugations 80, similar to the corrugations 76 in the lower surface of the plate and for a like purpose. The mat is provided with perfo rations 81 leading into the channels formed by the grooves 77 and 79 through which the oil drains into these channels. The mat may be secured to the plate in any suitable way, as by means of the screws 82. The longitudinal or side edges of the mat are preferably upturned. to form low flanges 83,

while the corresponding edges of the press plate are downturned to form flanges 8%, as shown in Fig. 11, the purpose of these flanges being to confine the sides of the cake slightly so as to restrict the lateral expansion of the same to some extent and partially relieve the pressure upon the side walls 10 of the press due to such expansion. These flanges also cause a better compression of the side edges of the cake and reduce the amount of soft cake. These flanges are not essential, however, and may be dispensed with entirely, or flanges may be formed 'on but one of the-members, for example on the mat onlv, as shown in Fig. 12;

An advantage of making the oil-draining channels partly in the mat and partly in the plate or wholly in the mat, as shown in Fig. 12, instead of wholly in the plate, is that the plate may thereby be made thinner and less bulky. This results in a considerable saving of weight even if the mat has to be made somewhat thicker as the mat is of less area than the plate, as shown in Fig. 9. Moreover, the making of the mat thicker has an advantage as it serves to space the plates apart in case a cake is left out when the press is operated. It thus prevents the head of one link from striking the head of the link or the plate above and possibly injuring the plates or links.

In order to facilitate the draining of the oil from the press, particularly where the grooved plates described are used, the press is preferably inclined slightly from the vertical in a direction lengthwise of the plates, as shown in Fig. 1. This causes all the oil to drain in one direction and facilitates the emptying of the grooves between the mat and plate.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a press having movable press plates between which the ma terial is pressed, of a movable side wall at one side of said press plates, and means for moving said side wall toward the press plates into a position close to but spaced.

from the edge of said press plates, means being provided to prevent said side wall from being moved into contact with the press plates. 7

2. The combination with a press havmg movable press plates between which the material is pressed, of movable side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, means for moving said side walls toward and from the edges of said press plates, and stops for limiting the movement of said side walls toward said press plates.

3. The combination with a press having vertically movable substantially horizontal press plates between which the material is pressed, of upright side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, means for moving said side walls toward and from the edges of said press plates, and stops for preventingthe movement of said side walls into engagement with the edges of said plates.

4. The combination with a press having vertically movable space-d press plates between which the material is pressed, of a laterally movable side wall at one side of said press plates, and movable wedges for forcing said side wall toward the edges of said press plates. 7

5. The combination with a press having vertically movable spaced press plates between which the material is pressed, of laterally movable side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, movable wedges for forcing said side walls toward said press plates, and means for forcibly moving said wedges.

6. The combination with a press having movable press plates between which the material is pressed, of a movable side wall, means for supporting said movable side wall comprising a link pivoted to said side wall and to a fixed part of the press, and means for forcing said side wall toward the edges of the press plates.

In. an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in said cylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block mounted on said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, side walls movably suspended from said head block, and means for moving said side walls toward the edges of said press plates. 7

8. The combination with a press having a stationary frame and movable press plates between which the material is pressed, m0v able walls at opposite sides of said press plates, wedges movable between rigid parts of said stationary frame and said side walls for forcing the side walls toward the press plates, and means for moving said wedges.

9. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in said cylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block mounted on said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, movable side walls at opposite sides wedges movableflbetween said side wall and said columns, and means for forcibly moving said wedges to move said side Wall toward the edges of said press plates.

11. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in said cylinder, a head block, columns connecting said base'and said head block, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, a movable side wall atone side of said press plates, wedge members on said side wall, wedge bars engaging said columns and movable parallel therewith, and wedges on said wedge bars engaging the wedge members on said side wall. 1

12. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working insaid cylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block .mounted on said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, a movable side wall at one side of said press plates, wedge members on said side wall, wedge bars engaging said col umns and movable parallel therewith, Wedges on said wedge bars engaging the wedge memberson said side wall, and hydraulic rams for moving said wedge bars.

13. In'an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in saidicylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block mounted on said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, movable side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, wedge members on said side walls, wedge bars engaging said columns and movable parallel therewith, wedges on said wedge bars engaging the Wedge members on said" side walls, hydraulic rams for moving said wedge bars. and springs for moving said side walls away 'rom said press plates when said wedges are moved to inoperative position.

14:. The combination with a press having movable press plates between which the material is pressed, "of movable side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, wedges for forcing said side walls toward the edges of said press plates, and stops for limiting the movement of said wedges.

15. The combination witha press having movable press plates between which the material is pressed, of a movable side wall at one side of said press plates, said side wall having a plurality of wedge members attached thereto, said wedge members being adjustable relative to said side wall, and means for moving said side wall toward the edges of said press plates including a wedge bar having a plurality of wedges thereon adapted to cooperate with the wedge mem bers on said side wall.

16. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in said cylinder, a head block, columns connecting said base and head block, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, a movable side wall at one side of said press plates, means reacting against said columns for forcing said side wall toward the edges of said press plates, and means for bracing said columns intermediate their ends.

17. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in said cylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block mounted on said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, movable side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, wedges engaging said movable side walls near the upper ends thereof, said wedges reacting against said columns, said head block having portions overhanging the upper ends of said columns and bracing the same adjacent to said wedges.

18. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in said cylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block mounted on said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, a movable side wall at one side of said press plates, devices reacting against said columns for moving said side wall toward the edges of said press plates, and reinforcing means for said columns movable longitudinally thereof to a position adjacent to said devices.

19. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in said cylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block mountedon said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, movable side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, wedges engaging said press plates and reacting against said columns, and a column reinforcing-clamp movable from a position at the base of said columns to a position embracing the portions of said. columns against which said wedges react.

20. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a

ram working in said cylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block mounted on said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, movable side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, wedge members on said side walls between the ends thereof, wedges engaging said wedgemembers and reacting,

against said columns, and a column reinforcing-clamp attached to the ram and movable therewith.

21. In an expressing press, the combination of a base having a cylinder therein, a ram working in said cylinder, columns projecting upwardly from said base, a head block mounted on said columns, movable press plates between which the material is pressed, movable side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, wedge members on said side walls near the upper ends thereof, wedge members on said side walls approximately at the highest level to which the ram .cap rises, wedge bars engaging the columns and movable pa "allel therewith, each of said wedge bars having upper and lower wedges thereon engaging the upper and lower wedge members on said side walls, said head block having portions overhanging said columns and bracing the same adjacent to said upper wedges, and a column reinforcing clamp.

movable to a position adjacent to said lower wedges.

22. The combination of a'press having movable press plates between which the material is pressed, of a movable side wall at one side of said press plates, means for moving said side wall toward the edges of said press plates, said means including hydraulic rams, and means for admitting liquid under pressure to said rams normally to hold said side wall operating means in inoperative position.

23. The combination with a press having press plates between which the material is pressed, of movable side walls at opposite sides'of said press plates, wedges for moving said side walls toward the edges of said press plates, hydraulic cylinders and pistons for moving said wedges, means for constantly admitting liquid under pressure above said pistons normally to hold said wedges in inoperative position, and means for admitting liquid below said pistons to overcome the pressure above said. pistons when said side walls are to be moved toward said press plates.

24. The combination with a press having movable press plates between which the material is pressed, of side walls at opposite sides of said press plates, said press plates having lugs projecting from their sides in front of said side walls, the front edges of said plates being cut away to form recesses between said lugs.

25. The combination with a press having 27. The combination with a press having 15 movable press plates between which the ma terial is pressed, of a movable side wall at one side of said press plates, means for moving said side wall toward and from the edges of said press plates, and stop means for 20 limiting the movement of said side Wall toward said press plates.

Witness my hand, this 2nd day of April ALFRED WV. FRENCH. Witnesses:

IRENE ELI, A. B. BiNroRD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

